14 I Love Being Called Cute

"I actually really like big, strong animals. Like bears or whales."

"Lions and tigers are big and strong too. Right, Rin-chan?"

Chito-chan was affectionately stroking Rin’s cheeks.

"Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen a lion or a tiger in person."

"Eh? Tochika-kun, you’ve never been to a zoo?"

"Maybe when I was little, but I don't remember. And I’ve never been to Africa."

"Tigers aren't even in Africa."

"Seriously?!"

"Should I lend you the 『Animal Encyclopedia』 I used to read when I was a kid?"

"I’m more of an e-book guy."

I definitely wouldn't read a physical encyclopedia even if I borrowed it, so I turned her down with a vague excuse.

In case you were wondering, we were currently in the garden of the dog cafe, 『CAFE Chitto』. Rin was sitting majestically in the middle of the spacious yard, while Row was happily sprinting around, yapping away.

"Anyway, Row is too energetic. Isn't it rare for a dog to run this much?"

"I heard Row was so hyper his original owner couldn't handle him and gave him up."

"What? That’s pretty selfish of them."

"Don't be mad. They couldn't help it; apparently, the owner got sick."

"I retract my previous statement."

Even if I’m not an animal person, I believe that if you’re going to keep a living creature, you should take responsibility. But I suppose there are cases where circumstances make that impossible.

"The important thing is for the doggies to be happy now."

"That’s quite profound, Chito-chan."

It was the kind of thing only someone who was constantly surrounded by animals could say. Even if I didn't particularly like animals, I still wanted them to be happy.

"Happiness is all well and good, but..."

"But what?"

"Why am I here again?"

Luna had gone to her club activities, and Nono-san had gone off to hang out with her gyaru friends. Left to our own devices, I’d been naturally abducted to the cafe by Chito-chan.

"Chito-chan, didn't you say you’d let me taste-test a new cake for the shop?"

"During our 『One-Night Talk』, I learned how much you love sweets until I was sick of hearing it. I figured it would be the perfect bait."

"So I really was just hooked by bait?"

Chito-chan was finally learning how to lure me in with food... she was growing up.

"And besides, there was a mistake with the delivery, so the cake didn't even arrive today."

"I’ve been completely swindled."

After that "One-Night" talk with Chito-chan, I felt like the distance between us had shrunk exactly as she’d intended.

"Besides, does a dog cafe even serve sweets?"

"A lot of places are drink-only, but we serve them here."

I wondered if that was the older sister’s hobby too... well, serving sweets is a noble pursuit, so they should keep it up.

"Chitto is a bit of a unique dog cafe. We’re ‘dogs first’ like everywhere else, but..."

"Unique, huh? And what’s with that unique outfit, Chito-chan?"

"As long as we wear the apron, the dress code is pretty free, so this is basically my uniform."

"Heeh."

Chito-chan spread her arms to show off her clothes. Under her black apron, she wore a white T-shirt and denim overalls. The bottom was a skirt, which was very typical of the "cute-obsessed" Chito-chan. She looked less like a high school girl with a part-time job and more like a little shepherd girl.

"It’s work clothes! It’s fine if they get dirty, or even if I fall into the sea!"

"I’d prefer if you kept the ‘falling into the sea’ to a minimum."

I didn't have any spare uniforms left, and if I had to jump into the ocean to save her again, I’d be going to school in my gym clothes tomorrow.

"Good grief. I fell for the trap, and on top of that—"

"On top of that, what?"

"I came here hoping to see your sister!"

"You’re the only person I know who would target someone’s sister so openly. But Onee is here, you know?"

Chito-chan pointed toward the cafe building. From here, we couldn't see the main floor, but we could see the office window in the back. Naruse Sawa-san—Chito-chan’s older sister—was there, staring at a PC monitor while tapping away at the keyboard.

"She’s there, but she’s working! Even I wouldn't bother an Onee-san while she’s working!"

"You were actually planning to bother her?"

"I was hoping for a chance to use the sweets as an excuse to invite her for tea."

"Inviting a cafe manager to tea... you’ve got guts, Tochika-kun."

"I’ve seen her at all sorts of cafes. She was a total regular at Mireille."

"Onee’s cafe tours are for market research! A dog cafe is mostly about playing with the dogs, but that’s not enough. You have to make the sweets and light meals delicious and Instagrammable too."

"So she’s dedicated to her research..."

"We have to earn a lot of money, otherwise we won't be able to buy the dogs delicious food."

"I guess it really is a serious business... Honestly, I kind of thought your sister was a NEET."

"If I tell Onee that, do you think she’ll forgive you?"

"Is there any reason why she would?"

Chito-chan and I shared a bright smile. This girl was definitely trying to drive a wedge between me and her sister. Not that there was much to drive a wedge into—we were just "friends" who occasionally met at cafes.

"But seriously, is she really the manager at that age? She’s young, right?"

"She’d smack me if I told you her exact age, so I’ll stay quiet. But yeah, she’s young. She’s much older than me, but in the eyes of the world, I think she counts as a young woman."

"Definitely."

The older sister was mature and composed, but she was definitely still in her twenties. She was comfortably within my strike zone.

"Chito-chan, from my perspective, you’re like a vanishing slider."

"I don't really get the metaphor, but that was an insult, wasn't it? Row-kun, lick his face all over!"

"Wait, wait! Don't sick the dog on me!"

The usually disobedient Row was suddenly very motivated. I scrambled to hold him down as he tried to pounce on my face—

"A working Onee-san... that’s nice. She looks so sharp and cool. Like a real career woman."

"Onee has always been smart. Before this... well, a lot happened, and now she’s the manager of a dog cafe."

"......"

She just dodged the subject. Did the older sister have a past she couldn't talk about? Wow, that was mysterious and amazing. A tall, beautiful, cool Onee-san with a mysterious past? That’s like a premium combo deal.

"Come to think of it, since a dog cafe deals with animals, don't you need all sorts of licenses?"

"Ah, yeah. Onee has a few, but we also have a veteran staff member who acts as the chief."

"I see."

Even a regular cafe isn't something just anyone can open on a whim. And when you’re responsible for living creatures, you probably need a license or two, and the responsibility must be heavy.

"I don't really get all that stuff yet. Onee says I don't have to understand it, as long as I take good care of the dogs and the customers. Am I being spoiled?"

"No, I think she’s teaching you the most important part."

Chito-chan looked much younger than she was, but she was still a high schooler. Even if she wanted a license, she couldn't get one easily, and even if she wanted to shoulder the responsibility, she couldn't.

"You’re right. So for now, I’ll just do my best with what I’m assigned!"

Chito-chan stood up and grabbed Row and Rin’s leashes.

"Let’s go for a walk! Row-kun is itching to run."

"He’s been sprinting around the garden, and he still wants to run? Fine, I’ll take Row’s leash again."

"No."

Chito-chan shook her head firmly.

"I’m the one in charge of Row-kun and Rin-chan. I can’t just rely on Tochika-kun all the time."

"...If Row or the other one tries to bolt, I’m chasing them down immediately."

"Mm, thanks."

Right, the dogs’ safety came first, so it was good that she wasn't being stubborn about that. Chito-chan, in her shepherd outfit, held the leashes of the two puppies, opened the gate, and stepped outside.

And then.

"Gyaaaah! Row-kun, too fast, too fast! Rin-chan is dashing too!"

"You were overwhelmed immediately!"

I knew it! I should have taken at least one of them! Chito-chan was being dragged along by Row and Rin, sprinting down the seaside road at a terrifying speed. I wasn't great at sprinting, so it was all I could do to keep up.

"Too fast! They’re gonna break nine seconds for the hundred-meter!"

"Chito-chan, you’re aiming for the world stage!"

"Don't be so casual about it! Tochika-kun, you’re falling behind!"

"It’s not my fault! I’m not being pulled by dogs, and I’m slow at sprinting!"

I was technically giving it my all to keep up with them.

"The only thing I can do is cheer you on! Good luck, Chito-chan! Don't you dare let go of those leashes, even if it kills you!"

"Put more heart into your cheering! And some love, if possible!"

"Talk about a heavy demand in the heat of the moment! But you’re doing great. If it were me, I would’ve let go already. You’re amazing, Chito-chan."

The distance between us was growing so large it was getting hard to hear each other. Row, Rin, and Chito-chan were seriously fast.

"T-Tochika-kun, praise me more!"

"Even if you tell me to..."

"I grow when I’m praised! Tochika-kun, be my energy drink!"

"Uh... Go, go, go!"

"No creativity! Five points!"

"Stingy! Fine, uh... Chito-chan, you’re cute!"

"That’s the best one! One hundred points!"

She was so simple.

"Chito-chan, you’re cute! So cute! The cutest in the world!"

"I know you don't care about cute things, but it still makes me happy! Say it more!"

"............"

To any onlooker, were we just a stupid couple? Or were we still just siblings? Either way, it looked like I’d be forced into this embarrassing play-acting until Row and Rin finally got tired of running.